Molecular characterisation of from human and companion animal sources in the United Kingdom using an improved molecular marker.

is a protozoan parasite known for its ability to cause gastrointestinal disease in human and non-human mammals. In the UK, the full impact of this parasite has yet to be fully explored, due to the limited testing which has been undertaken in humans and the low-resolution assemblage-typing methods currently available. Rather than being primarily a travel-associated condition, a recent study has highlighted that an endemic cycle is present in the UK, although the source of human disease is unclear in the majority of cases. This study focussed on the improvement of one of the commonly used assemblage-typing assays, a nested () PCR, to increase the amplification success rate across both human and companion animal samples. After comparing published primers to full reference genomes, this marker protocol was optimised and then deployed to test a substantial number of human ( ​= ​79) and companion animal ( ​= ​174) samples to gain an insight into the molecular epidemiology of in the UK. One assemblage A1 and eleven assemblage A2 genotypes were detected in humans, along with and 25 assemblage B genotypes. Assemblage A1 genotypes, known to be human-infective, were found in three feline and one canine sample, while one feline sample contained assemblage A2. Additionally, four feline samples contained assemblage B, which is recognised as potentially human-infective. This study demonstrates the presence of potentially human-infective genotypes circulating in the companion animal population, notably with 17.4% (8/46) of feline-derived strains being potentially zoonotic. Using a modified -based genotyping assay, this work highlights the potential for domestic pets to be involved in the endemic transmission of giardiasis in the UK and underlines the need for appropriate hygiene measures to be observed when interacting with both symptomatic and asymptomatic animals. It also serves to underline the requirement for further studies to assess the zoonotic risk of associated with companion animals in high-income countries.